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This will be the 41st year of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. You can find a list of past winners at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_awards. The awards will be based on the time frame from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Polling takes place amongst active subscribers. When you submit your ballot, you need to send in your name and if you’re subscribing in print or online. If online, you need to send a receipt from your last order. Ballots can be submitted by mail, email, or fax. There are two categories of awards. “Category A” awards have voters list their top 3 choices, which received 5, 3, and 2 points for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively. “Category B” awards have people vote for just one choice. Category A Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year) – Combines importance to the business and drawing power with success in the ring Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable – Combines importance to the business and drawing power with success in the cage Most Outstanding Wrestler – Best in-ring performer Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year – Best in-cage performer, in terms of ability & wins Tag Team of the Year – Best working & most valuable team in wrestling Best on Interviews – Only consider 2019 Promotion of the Year – Should be based on which group put together the best live and television product on a consistent basis, and secondarily, the ability to sell that product at a high level. Best Weekly TV Show Pro Wrestling Match of the Year MMA Match of the Year Category B United States/Canada MVP Japanese MVP Mexico MVP Europe MVP Non-Heavyweight MVP Women's Wrestling MVP Women's MMA MVP Best Box Office Draw – Person who moves ticket sales, TV ratings, and/or PPV sales. Feud of the Year – This should be based on a combination of having a compelling storyline along with having great matches that should strengthen the box office. Most Improved – Wrestling only Most Charismatic Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler) Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler) Best Flying Wrestler Most Overrated – The wrestler who gets the biggest push, despite lacking ring ability or charisma. Most Underrated – The wrestler with the most ability, who, for whatever reason, doesn't get a push commensurate with their ability. Rookie of the Year – Wrestling only, must have debuting in a major professional debut after September 1, 2017. Based on ring performance, not star potential. Best Non-Wrestler Best Television Announcer Worst Television Announcer Best Major Wrestling Show – Not a TV taping or house show Worst Major Wrestling Show Best Wrestling Maneuver Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic Worst Television Show Worst Match of the Year Worst Feud of the Year Worst Promotion of the Year Best Booker Promoter of the Year Best Gimmick Worst Gimmick Best Pro Wrestling Book Best Pro Wrestling DVD/Streaming Documentary
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Sep 17, 2019 00:26
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Wrestler of the Year Will the Thrill Most Outstanding Ishii Best Flying Fenix As it stands before AEW goes weekly
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Sep 17, 2019 00:48
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I think Best Flying has to be Vikingo this year. Technical probably has to be ZSJ, & Brawler to Ishii.
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Sep 17, 2019 00:54
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Most improved is Lance Archer in a landslide. But Cody deserves second.
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Sep 17, 2019 00:56
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Most Overrated- Baron Corbin or Lacey Evans?
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Sep 17, 2019 01:03
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Lid posted:Most improved is Lance Archer in a landslide. But Cody deserves second. If Cody had a match with Spears at All Out that was on par with his one against Dustin, I would have to consider Cody over Archer. Nyla Rose or Jungle Boy might need to be considered for this one too, depending on how the last few months go. Maybe Chris Dickinson. No one in Mexico sticks out, nor New Japan outside of Archer. I feel like Velveteen Dream's big improvement was last year. I'm not familiar enough with Japan outside of NJPW to comment on any contenders from there.
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Sep 17, 2019 01:07
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Davros1 posted:Most Overrated- Baron Corbin or Lacey Evans? Its not Baron v Lacey its Shane v Lacey. I still vote Lacey.
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Sep 17, 2019 01:24
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Has anyone ever been dropped from the ballot, put back on, then not voted in again? Has anyone dropped off multiple times?
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Sep 17, 2019 01:42
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I have absolutely no idea what the best weekly TV show is. I don't watch New Japan's weekly show because I watch the full events on World. Beyond Uncharted Territory? Or is it just CMLL Super Viernes which seems like a solid choice most of the time? I dunno, I've seen one episode of Impact this year which was fine but clearly not fine enough to get me to watch another episode, ROH was utterly forgettable, I've seen one match from MLW this year & that was from a NOAH show. Wrestler of the Year is an interesting one because there's no real obvious standout combining both categories. The in-ring standouts are guys like Ospreay, Ishii, Takagi, the big draws are people like Okada, Naito, whoever the gently caress in WWE is considered on top, Brock? Okada is obviously great in ring so I guess he's the most balanced case, at least of the New Japan guys. Tag Team I suppose has to be between Bucks & Lucha Bros? Far more into the teams of Ben-K & Shun Skywalker and Masaaki Mochizuki & Keisuke Okuda but not sure either team could win an argument on "most valuable". Same thing probably stops AXIZ being considered, which sucks because Shiozaki & Nakajima rule. Best show so far is hard choice for me between Best of the Super Juniors Finals & G1 Climax Block A final night. Honourable mention to Bloodsport from Wrestlemania weekend. Most Underrated is Chase Owens. Women's Wrestler of the Year is Sareee. Rookie is Yuya Uemura because Ren Narita misses the cutoff by 2 months. Does "continuing to take blood money to run shows for Saudi PR" count for Worst Promotional tactic? Nothing else screams out, or at least nothing that I've not immediately forgotten. The mere existence of WWE is probably too broad. Honestly always have a problem with filling out Observer awards because I really don't care how big a draw someone is.
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Sep 17, 2019 01:48
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flashy_mcflash posted:Has anyone ever been dropped from the ballot, put back on, then not voted in again? Has anyone dropped off multiple times? AJ Styles dropped off twice. A bunch of guys who have died have dropped off twice since dying usually gets you back on the ballot.
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Sep 17, 2019 01:52
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Cody is going to get way more WOTY votes than people think
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Sep 17, 2019 01:53
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Benne posted:Cody is going to get way more WOTY votes than people think I'd be surprised if either he isn't in the top 3.
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Sep 17, 2019 01:54
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MOTY: BOSJ final or Cody/Dustin WMOTY: Lawlor/Havoc MLW title match
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Sep 17, 2019 02:00
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Best Box Office Draw is an interesting one in that it should go to one of The Elite in America but in Japan its Kota Ibushi and i dont know Mexico at all.
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Sep 17, 2019 02:11
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Here's my way-too-early ballot Wrestler of the Year 1. Kazuchika Okada 2. Cody 3. Will Ospreay Most Outstanding Wrestler 1. Will Ospreay 2. Tomohiro Ishii 3. Shingo Takagi Tag Team of the Year 1. The Young Bucks 2. Lucha Bros 3. SoCal Uncensored Best on Interviews 1. Chris Jericho 2. Jon Moxley 3. Juice Robinson Promotion of the Year 1. NJPW 2. AEW 3. Dragon Gate Best Weekly TV Show 1. AEW's "Road To..." 2. NJPW on AXS 3. I dunno, MLW or something? I pretty much stopped watching weekly TV across all promotions. Pro Wrestling Match of the Year 1. Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi, BOSJ Finals 2. Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii, G1 Climax 3. Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes, AEW Double Or Nothing United States/Canada MVP: Cody Japanese MVP: Kazuchika Okada Mexico MVP: Laredo Kid Europe MVP: Will Ospreay Non-Heavyweight MVP: Will Ospreay Women's Wrestling MVP: Meiko Satomura Best Box Office Draw: The Elite Feud of the Year: Minoru Suzuki vs. Jushin Thunder Liger Most Improved: Lance Archer Most Charismatic: Chris Jericho Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler): Zack Sabre Jr. Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler): Tomohiro Ishii Best Flying Wrestler: El Hijo del Vikingo Most Overrated: Shane McMahon Most Underrated: Throw the 205 Live roster into a hat and pick one, who fuckin cares Rookie of the Year: Cain Velasquez Best Non-Wrestler: Miho Abe Best Television Announcer: Kevin Kelly Worst Television Announcer: Alex Marvez Best Major Wrestling Show: AEW Double Or Nothing Worst Major Wrestling Show: WWE Super Showdown in Glorious Progressive Paradise Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Best Wrestling Maneuver: THE JUDAS EFFECT (serious answer: Shingo Takagi's Pumping Bomber) Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: Is WWE still in bed with KSA? Yes? Okay then. Worst Television Show: WWE Raw Worst Match of the Year: Goldberg vs. Undertaker, WWE Blood Money Flowing From The Heavens Like a Benevolent Ruler Who's Definitely Not Doing Genocide Worst Feud of the Year: Seth Rollins/Becky Lynch vs. Baron Corbin/Lacey Evans Worst Promotion of the Year: The one still run by a credibly accused rapist Best Booker: Gedo Promoter of the Year: Tony Khan Best Gimmick: A Boy And His Dinosaur Worst Gimmick: THE SASSY SOUTHERN BELLE
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Sep 17, 2019 02:18
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Best Television Announcer is Excalibur.
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Sep 17, 2019 10:18
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WOTY: Jon Moxley while Okada is the obvious choice, I think that Moxley is responsible for a lot of the feeling going around about wrestling at the moment. Him showing up in NJPW and AEW has brought a buzz to wrestling that hasn't been around in a while. That coupled with his in-ring performances pushed him over the top for me. Rookie of the Year: El Phantasmo Admittedly I'm a bit of a mark for the guy because I like seeing RPW guys succeed. However, even without that bias it's difficult to see how this can go to anyone else. Debuted in NJPW to much fanfare, he had two MOTYCs in three days during BOSJ, won the Jr tag titles at his first attempt, has pinned Will Ospreay three times and has won the Super-J Cup in another MOTYC with Dragon Lee. If it wasn't for his dumb comments post Super-J Cup, it would be a perfect year
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Sep 22, 2019 00:03
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Davros1 posted:Most Overrated- Baron Corbin or Lacey Evans? who rates Corbin or Lacey?
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Sep 22, 2019 00:04
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Low Desert Punk posted:who rates Corbin or Lacey? Vince McMahon
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Sep 22, 2019 01:15
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Dave should probably just rename it since we have the same argument every year, but Most Overrated really means Most OverpushedZiggy Tzardust posted:Rookie of the Year: El Phantasmo Admittedly I'm a bit of a mark for the guy because I like seeing RPW guys succeed. However, even without that bias it's difficult to see how this can go to anyone else. Debuted in NJPW to much fanfare, he had two MOTYCs in three days during BOSJ, won the Jr tag titles at his first attempt, has pinned Will Ospreay three times and has won the Super-J Cup in another MOTYC with Dragon Lee. If it wasn't for his dumb comments post Super-J Cup, it would be a perfect year I like ELP and he had a great breakout year but, uhh, he's not a rookie Benne fucked around with this message at 01:25 on Sep 22, 2019 |
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Sep 22, 2019 01:21
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most overrated: sami zayn, jeff cobb, finn balor
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Sep 22, 2019 01:23
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Benne posted:Dave should probably just rename it since we have the same argument every year, but Most Overrated really means Most Overpushed yeah, I wish he would just have both, because Most Overrated as an actual category would make for interesting voting and speculation
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Sep 22, 2019 01:41
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Ziggy Tzardust posted:WOTY: Jon Moxley while Okada is the obvious choice, I think that Moxley is responsible for a lot of the feeling going around about wrestling at the moment. Him showing up in NJPW and AEW has brought a buzz to wrestling that hasn't been around in a while. That coupled with his in-ring performances pushed him over the top for me. While I can see what you're going for, I think this case depends on how AEW TV starts off, otherwise it's mostly based on having a hot G1 run, which seems a bit weak as a case compared to Okada's year so far, or every Ospreay, who as much as I don't care for him has impressed a lot of people by just taking on a lot of work all year, and for people more entertained by him, having those four big tournament performances probably counts for a lot in terms of a sheer performance case.
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Sep 22, 2019 01:48
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Moxley's case is really hurt by having a complete zero on his resume for nearly 6 months
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Sep 22, 2019 01:51
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The only AEW guys I'm considering voting for are the Young Bucks as tag team of the year or possibly feud of the year with the Lucha Bros.
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Sep 22, 2019 02:29
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I'm going to try to talk about individual awards in depth, starting with the Mexican MVP award. I'm not sure there's a real clear cut favorite as of right now. CMLL has stalled out pretty hard creatively the last few months, as they're centered around an ultimo Guerrero vs. Cibernetico feud that they abandoned for the main event of the Anniversario, instead going with a multi-man cage match that will involve Ciber & UG, as well as Gilber el Boricua. This seems to have affected CMLL up and down the card, with match quality falling off compared to the first couple of months of the year. This includes Cuartrero, Forastero, & Sanson, who I would have voted as tag team of the year in March or so. AAA basically has two storylines going right now - the eternal Nina Hamburguesa/Big Mami/Lady Maravilla love triangle, and the Blue Demon Jr./Dr. Wagner Jr. feud. The latter has a lot of heat and is probably the most intriguing feud in Mexico in 2019, but their matches have been just okay. They have a couple of real standouts around a lot, like Vikingo & Laredo Kid, but overall they feel like a clear #2 company. LA Park has largely done nothing special this year. Pentagon Jr. & Fenix have primarily been working U.S. dates, though their matches with the Young Bucks have been great, as have their LAX matches, but only half of that has been in Mexico. Barbaro Cavernario may be my pick for the best single wrestler in Mexico, but he hasn't done much the last couple of months. Laredo Kid has been good, but when in the trios with the Lucha Bros and the Elite, he feels like the sixth best worker out of those six. Hijo del Vikingo just got hurt, fortunately for not too long. It also feels like Dragon Lee & Rush haven't done much this year, spending a lot of time as some of the few bright spots in RoH. Myzteziz Jr. was the third man on the trios team with Vikingo & Laredo. Other guys like Caristico, Mistico, Niebla Roja, Titan, & Templario have all had moments, but if we're talking about them as Mexican MVP, then we're way down the list. Right now I'm leaning towards Vikingo, but I think Laredo Kid & Barbaro Cavernario are also in contention. Ultimo Guerrero is a possibility, but he's going to have to spend the last three months doing something a lot more interesting than feuding with Ciber et al.
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Sep 22, 2019 02:59
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Benne posted:I like ELP and he had a great breakout year but, uhh, he's not a rookie When it says debut for a major promotion, I didn't think that places like RPW and the other British indies counted. If that's not the case, then Cain Velasquez gets my vote
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Sep 22, 2019 09:14
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Ziggy Tzardust posted:When it says debut for a major promotion, I didn't think that places like RPW and the other British indies counted. If that's not the case, then Cain Velasquez gets my vote Yeah, the qualifying criteria is kinda vague and constantly up for debate, but for the most part ROTY is reserved for people having their literal first year in pro wrestling. It's how Ronda Rousey won last year and probably how Cain will win this year.
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Sep 22, 2019 09:19
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How is Ibushi not best wrestler and japan MVP
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Sep 22, 2019 10:51
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lol you dumdums jericho will win every award
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Sep 22, 2019 11:02
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The Judas Effect
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Sep 22, 2019 11:13
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It depends since its never been defined - I think its officially "first year in a major promotion" or something like that but most people read it as first year full stop since "major promotion" isn't defined and I'd argue includes top level independent promotions. ELP has been wrestling since 2005 so I think its a bit unfair for legit rookies to count him as part of that one even if you don't consider Rev Pro "major". Rookie of the Year is an interesting one from my perspective since Joshi wrestling is full of all sorts of great rookies who've started over the last few years. If I use my own personal definition of the award (rookies that either debuted in 2019 or who debuted so late in 2018 that you have to consider them as part of the 2019 class) Suzu Suzuki (of Ice Ribbon, debuted 31st December 2018 but, well, COME ON she counts for this year) is who I'd vote for; she's very young but is clearly very talented and just gets pro wrestling: character work is great and she just gets people engaged in her matches which is the sign of a good wrestler. Other possible candidates are Maria (Marvelous, debuted 24th December 2018 which again makes it fair to consider her for 2019) who's probably the weakest of the three Marvelous rookies but in the last few months has really progressed into being the biggest dick of the group and I'm looking forward to seeing that progress and Mirai Mayumi (Tokyo Joshi Pro - actually debuted in 2019!) stands out a lot: I think part of that is that she stands out from the other TJPW rookies in being a more serious wrestler over doing character stuff but she has shined: she had a very good match against Miyu Yamashita a week back. There's not a slam dunk candidate like there was last year with Utami (although Mikoto Shindo was also up there; but she's really moved up in my estimations this year) but there are still a lot of names. Cain Velasquez will win this for lack of other mainstream candidates though. I guess the LA young lions but they've all been wrestling in various places for a while I think and I'm sure technically debuted for New Japan last year; no obvious WWE candidates and I'm not an expert but I don't think there are US indie candidates.
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Sep 22, 2019 12:05
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Dave usually puts together a list of eligible RoY candidates with the ballot.
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Sep 22, 2019 13:28
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Jericho is making a strong late push for WOTY, and probably has Best Interviews and Most Charismatic locked up already. And I take back my Baron Corbin Most Overrated vote because it's Seth in a loving walk.
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Oct 13, 2019 03:25
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Seth is gonna walk away with Worst Match of the year and most Overrated. I still think Will has Wrestler of the Year locked up by Jericho is making a strong case for it
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Oct 13, 2019 03:57
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SatoshiMiwa posted:Seth is gonna walk away with Worst Match of the year and most Overrated. I feel like Corbin will give Seth a big run for Most Overrated. Remember he's the same guy you had all of management go on TV and say the dude is killing the ratings and crowds and then they keep having his character strongly pushed on TV
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Oct 13, 2019 05:02
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KungFu Grip posted:I feel like Corbin will give Seth a big run for Most Overrated. Remember he's the same guy you had all of management go on TV and say the dude is killing the ratings and crowds and then they keep having his character strongly pushed on TV Seth actually has the title though and has bombed on top which helps out big time
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Oct 13, 2019 05:14
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SatoshiMiwa posted:Seth actually has the title though and has bombed on top which helps out big time part of that was his heatless months long feud with Corbin and Lacey Evans after toppling Brock to as hot of reactions as wwe crowds get anymore.
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Oct 13, 2019 05:23
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Remember how loving hyped the crowd was for Seth when he came back from injury.... and immediately cut a heel promo? 
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Oct 13, 2019 05:33
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KungFu Grip posted:part of that was his heatless months long feud with Corbin and Lacey Evans after toppling Brock to as hot of reactions as wwe crowds get anymore. This is all true but if you're being positioned as the top babyface, at some point you gotta step up your game and drag lesser opponents to your level. Chad Gable managed to get good heated matches out of Corbin, and he did it with the company openly mocking him for months. Vince and the writers/agents deserve plenty of blame for Seth's title run bombing, but let's not act like he's an innocent victim -- he got plenty of chances and simply hasn't delivered.
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Oct 13, 2019 05:40
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